10 landmark Pakistani shows that were hugely popular in India

Even before the advent of Zindagi TV, Indians loved to watch Pakistani shows. A look at the evergreen Pak shows that have been ruling Indian hearts since 1980s.

advertisement

Amit Tyagi

October 5, 2016

UPDATED: October 5, 2016 19:07 IST

Indian audiences have always loved Pakistani shows.

Pakistani TV serials on Indian Television might have just become a thing of the past, after ZEE TV banned Pak shows from airing in India.

But that doesn't erase the history. Indian viewers have consumed content from Pakistan for the past 30 years, starting from 1980s.

Though Indian TV shows offer a wide variety of content in all genres, there is something about Pakistani shows that appeal to Indian viewers. Maybe it's the novely of the treatment of these shows or maybe it's the cultural connect that works. That's the reason Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed became oversight stars with their TV shows in India.

Though Indian viewers were largely exposed to Pakistani serials just recently in 2014 when a new channel, Zindagi started showing Pakistani classics, but in reality, the shows from our neighbouring country had started making inroads in India way back in 1980s.

We recall the landmark Pakistani TV shows over the years that captured the fancy of Indian viewers, thanks to their story, presentation and characters.

1. Zindagi Gulzar Hai: This was the show that made Pakistani actor Fawad Khan a popular face in India. The show that premiered in 2012 on Hum TV in Pakistan was based on a novel by Umera Ahmad and was also inspired from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was a love story of Kashaf played by Sanam Saeed and Zaroon played by Fawad Khan. It was a classic poor girl and a rich boy love story and focussed on women's struggle in the orthodox Pakistani society. The show instantly became a hit in Pakistan. And when the show travelled to India two years later, it re-created the history. The charms of the male protagonists, played by Fawad Khan floored the Indian female fans.

2. Bakra Qistoan Pay: In late 1980s when video cassettes were one of the sources of entertainment in India, one Pakistani show that made Indians laugh was Bakra Qistoan Pay. Hosted by Pakistani stand-up comedian Umer Sharif and Moin Akhtar, it was a comedy show. In fact, Kapil Sharma's Comedy Nights With Kapil and The Kapil Sharma Show has also taken inspiration from this hit Pakistani comedy series.

3. Humsafar: This was Fawad Khan's second show in India that came out soon after the release of his debut film Khoobsurat in 2015. The chemistry of Mahira and Fawad as Khirad and Asher was loved by Indian viewers. It was not just Fawad anymore. Indian viewers also got enamoured with the beauty of Mahira Khan. The show revolved around the breakup of a married couple. Mahira became a popular face after the show in India and she was immediately signed on for SRK's Raees, which is set to release this year.

4. Dhoop Kinare: The matured love story of a young lady doctor and a senior professor was a bold and shocking love story for Indians in 80s. Nevertheless, Dhoop Kinare was loved by us and watched by many during the decade. It initially aired on Pakistan TV network. Two doctors Dr Ahmed and Dr Zoya fall in love despite their age difference and broke society stereotypes. This was the first TV series that showed the modern facet of Pakistan. The show was bolder than any of the Indian TV shows at that time. It was later adapted in India by Sony TV as Kuch To Log Kahenge in 2011 but it did not work.

5. Mere Qaatil Mere Dildaar: The Pakistani show, starring Pak superstars Ahsaan Khan and Mehwish Hayat was the story of love, re-marriage, betrayal and revenge. The show first aired in Pakistan in 2011 on Hum TV; it came to India on Zindagi, three years later in 2014.

6. Aunn Zara: Aunn Zara was the first feel good TV serial from Pakistan that became quite popular in India as it was very similar to Indian shows. The context of Pakistan and a new milieu gave the show a different flavour. It was a family comedy show of two people with different personalities--Aunn and Zaara who are married to each other.

Much like Indian serials, this show had dance, music, mother-in-law, comedy, romance and the drama in equal measures. Also Indian audiences liked the lead pair Maya Ali and Osman Khalid Bhatt's love-hate chemistry. But the real stars of the show were two cute senior actress Nasreen Qureshi--the grand mother and Hina Bayat--the mother-in-law.

7. Buddha Ghar Pe Hai: After the success of Bakra Qistaon Pay, many comedy dramas from Pakistan came, but only one stood out--Buddha Ghar Pe Hai, starring Umer Sharif came out in 1989. The Umer and Moin combination entertained Indians with this hilarious comedy show. Umer Sharif is the mentor of many comedians including Shakeel who is still entertaining people in India with shows like Comedy Nights Bachao and Comedy Circus.

8. Dastaan: It is one of the best TV serials on India-Pakistan partition along with Tamas and Buniyaad. Though many Indians found the show anti-India, the Fawad Khan retro show had a different kind of appeal. It came to India as Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam in 2015 on Zindagi. In Pakistan, it had aired in 2010 on Hum TV and was one of Fawad Khan's initial TV shows. In India, the serial tried to encash Fawad's star status and was liked for the 1940s-style romance. It was a tragic love story of Bano played by Sanam Baloch and Hassan played by Fawad who get separated during India-Pakistan partition. The show was a big hit in Pakistan, while in India, the audiences watched it for the lead pair's chemistry and the flow of the story. Though the story and the context was perceived slightly anti-India from subjectivity point of view, but was a novel and unconventional attempt by makers across the border.

9. Ankahi: This 1982 soap was first aired in PTV and revolved around the strong and endearing Sana (played by Shehnaz Sheikh), who's ambitious and wants to earn money for her brother's heart surgery. When she really lands a job, she is clumsy at it and that creates some hilarious sequences. Bollywood movie Chal Mera Bhai is said to be inspired by the Pak serial. It starred Shehnaz Sheikh, Shakeel, Javed Sheikh, Saleem Nasir, Jamshed Ansari among others.

10. Waris: A 1980 show revolved around a Pakistani feudal lord Chaudhry Hashmat (Mehboob Alam). He ruled Sikandarpur with an iron grip. Along with his son Yaqub and two grandsons Chaudhry Anwar Ali and Chaudhry Niaz Ali, he struggles to hold on to his land which is the proposed site for a dam. It had a total of 13 episodes and it was aired on PTV. It starred Abid Ali, Mehboob Alam, Samina Ahmad among others.

Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from